Astana LRT to launch on May 16–17

Tengrinews.kz – Regular passenger services on the Astana LRT will begin this weekend, May 16–17. This was announced to journalists today by Asylbek Duissebayev, Chairman of the Board of City Transportation Systems.

“The opening is planned for this weekend. Yes, definitely,” Duissebayev told journalists today during a tour of the Astana LRT.

Earlier, CTS told journalists that the first passengers would be able to use the light rail transport system this week.
The project is now in the final stage of preparation. Test runs of trains, safety system checks and infrastructure adjustments are continuing in the capital.
Trial operation of the LRT began on September 29, 2025, and was supposed to last at least six months. CTS previously also reported that trains would run at speeds of 40–50 kilometers per hour, the journey from the Nurly Zhol station to the airport would take about 40 minutes, and the interval between trains would be from 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the section.
The LRT route will connect key points of the capital. The line will start at the international airport, where a train maintenance depot has also been built, and end at the Nurly Zhol railway station. There will be 18 stations along the route, passing through the city’s main business centers and residential districts.
Stations of "Astana LRT": 101 — "Auezai" ("Airport"); 102 — "Atameken"; 103 — "Esil"; 104 — "Mangilik El"; 105 — "Astana Zhuldizy"; 106 — "Nura"; 107 — "University"; 108 — "Uly Dala"; 109 — "Astana Arena"; 110 — "Zhekpe-Zhek Saraiy" ("Palace of Martial Arts"); 111 — "Syganak"; 112 — "Baiterek"; 113 — "Ministerlikter Uyi" ("House of Ministries"); 114 — "National Museum"; 115 — "Theater"; 116 — "Myngyldyk Alleyasy" ("Millennium Alley"); 117 — "Zhibek Zholy"; 118 — "Nurly Zhol".
In the future, city authorities plan to extend the line to the suburb of Kosshy. Preparations for the second phase of the project have already begun — the first reinforced concrete beam for the new section of the overpass was recently poured. However, it is still too early to say whether the transport network will extend further through the city.